Outside the US Institute of Peace on Thursday, a coalition of activists and lawmakers gathered to protest a private dinner hosted by Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison. The event, attended by Donald Trump, signaled a push for regulatory approval of a massive merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The invite-only gathering was ostensibly held to celebrate the First Amendment and honor the Trump White House. Critics, however, were quick to label the affair the "Paramount Corruption Gala." Norm Eisen, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action, dismissed the event’s framing, noting that it "resembles the First Amendment in the same way that a book burning is a celebration of the written word."If the merger proceeds, David Ellison—son of Oracle co-founder and Trump donor Larry Ellison—would gain control over a vast media empire including CBS, CNN, and HBO. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, described the dinner as a transparent attempt to secure a government rubber-stamp for a deal that threatens media diversity and consumer interests. The demonstration occurred just hours after Warner Bros. shareholders voted to approve the acquisition.
Congressional representatives Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Becca Balint (D-Vt.) joined the picket line to denounce the arrangement. Raskin characterized the event as a "lavish oligarch’s dinner," while Balint told the crowd that the corruption was on display in real-time as guests mingled inside. The proposed consolidation faces significant pushback from Hollywood professionals, who have warned that the deal could jeopardize the sustainability of the creative industry.
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